Swimming device



0a. 15, 1935., a ,gommm 2,017,463

SWIMMING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1934 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 'eoryellbmadz'na; MENTOR I ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1935. e. KOMADINA 2,017,463

SWIMMING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1934 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2- 6e flamadz'na v m BY y ya: ATTORNEY.

Get. 15, 1935. Q KQMADINA 2,017,463

SWIMMING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1934 Sheets-Sheet 3 v ,zzya.

pa ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UN iTso STATES wuss PATENT osmos- Application April 10, 1934, Serial No. 719,960

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a swimming device especially adapted for aiding a person in swimming or learning to swim and has for the primary object the provision of hand and feet devices similarly constructed which will provide maximum traction for the feet and hands in the waterto materially aid to maintain the person at the surface of the water and permit the person to progress through the water at a maximum rate of speed.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. 7

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to-be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is 'a view illustrating a person in swimming position with swimming devices applied to the feet and hands and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating one of these devices or the device adapted for use on the hand.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional vieiv taken on the line 5-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating the device adaptabe for use on the foot.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view illustrating the same.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view illustrating a person main,

- tained partially above the surface of the water 40 by the use of my invention on the hands thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the characters l and 2 indicate hand and feet devices each including a main pate 3 having hinged thereto blades 4. The main plate of the hand device I is substantially egg-shaped in outline provided adjacent opposite ends thereof with openings 5, one of which has mounted to the walls thereof a cushion element 6 to provide a rest for one of the fingers of the hand while the other opening may be employed for suspending the device on a hook or like support. Secured subslantialy centrally of and to the under face of. the main plate is ahinged plate I provided with pairs of spaced pintle barrels 8. The barrels B of each pair support a pintle 9, The

g the hand, as shown in Figures 1 and 9.

blades 4 are partially overlapped by the main plate and the opposing edges thereof are extended and shaped to form pintle barrels ill journaled on the pintles 9 whereby the blades may pivot relative to-the main plate and move in one direc- 5 tion within the water. The blades 6 each are of substantially semi-circular shape and the edges thereof are reinforced by a beading H. The barrels ii) are of substantially triangular shape in cross section which will permit the blades to 10 hingerelative to the main plate and provide stops for limiting themovement of the blades towards each other by abutting the hinge plate I, as shown in Figure 3. The outer edges of the blades are not provided with the beads l I and are slightly curved, as shown at l2. The'se slightly curved and substantially sharp outer edges 12 allow the blades to cut through the water with great emciency while the headings ll reinforce and rib the active faces of the blades and likewise serve to hold the water engaged by the blades scooped in said blades and thus materially facilitate propulsion by the swimmer. v

The main plate of the hand device is offset and slotted adjacent to opposite edges thereof, as shown at l3, providing mediums to receive or permit the connectionof a, hand strap is to the main plate. The swimmers or persons hand is placed on the main plate with a finger engaging in the opening 5 and the hand strap passing oIvfir e hands of the person equipped with. the devices I will permit the hands to obtain greater traction in the water while on a working stroke and when returning on a non-working stroke the blades 4 automatically swing to substantially right angles to the main plate, as shown in Figure 3, therebyreducing the resistance of the movement of the hands through the water on the nonworking stroke or motion of the arms of the person. i

The foot device 2 includes a main plate l5, the general outline thereof being substantially in conformity to the shape of a persons foot and has hinged thereto blades l6 similarly constructed 4 and shaped to the blades 6. The hinge connections between the main plate l5 and blades 16' are in accordance with that described in reference to the hand device. The main plate ii at opposite sides thereof adjacent the toe portion is pro- 60 vided with slotted ears IT to receive straps l8 each-including sections connected by a buckle l9. The straps l8 cross each other and are adapted to extend over the foot of a person between the toes and the instep. The heel portion of the main i 2v platen is equipped with slotted ears mm which is connected an ankle strap IS, the latter including sections connected by a buckle 20'. The ankle strap or the sections thereof cross each other as will be apparent in Figure 5 and is adapted to encircle the ankle of the person. The use of the foot device 2 upon the swimmer is in accordance with that heretofore described in connection with the hand devices and the main plate 15 has secured to its under face cushioned blocks 2| to form tread portions for the device when walking on the ground or beach. 'Elasticelements 22 are secured to the ears I! and are adapted. to bebrought in engagement with hooks 23 secured to the blades [6 forimaintaining' the blades in a plane substantially with the plane of the main plate when the device is worn by a person when walking on the ground or the beach;

Devices applied to the feet and hands of a per- I son, as shown in Figure 1 will materially aid the person in learning to swim or to increase the rate of speed at which the person may travel through the water. The use of the hand devices will permit a person to assume a position shown in Figure 9 wherein the major portion of the body and head 4 Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a swimming device, a fiat main plate to be attached to the hands or feet of the user and having adjacent its ends round openings, a hinged plate longitudinally arranged and centrally positioned on the main plate, flat semi-circular blades normally resting against. the main plate and having substantially V-shaped barrels, pivots passing through the longitudinal edges of the hinged plate and said barrels, said blades having their edges from their straight inner edges to point equidistant from outer edges formed with a beading and the outer edge of said plates between such beading being slightly rounded in one direction.

2. In a swimming device, a flat main plate to be attached to the hands or feet of the user and plate longitudnallyarranged and centrally positioned on the main plate, fiat semi-circular blades normally resting against the main plate and having substantially V-shaped barrels, pivots passing through the longitudinal edges of the hinged plate andsaid barrels. said blades having their edges from their straight inner edges to point having adjacent its ends round openings, a hinged equidistant from outer edges formedwith a beading and the outer edge of said plates between such beading being slightly rounded in one direction, and cushioning blocks fixed on the main plate,

adjacent to the opposite ends of the hinged plate.

GEORGE KONIADINA. 

